Knee arthritis is a common diagnosis affecting both sedentary and active middle to older age adults. Patients presenting to our Boulder and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics frequently report knee stiffness, pain, lost mobility, and weakness affecting both their daily and recreational activities. Physical Therapy including manual therapy and exercise remains the gold standard of treatment...
In our Boulder County physical therapy practice, we are observing a resurgence of the use of clinical tests by some area providers to determine mobility and position of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) not only to explain posterior pelvic girdle pain, but also lower back, hip issues and beyond. Approximately 20 years ago, the tides began...
Cupping is an intervention dating back at least 1000 years, but has experienced a resurgence in popularity due in part to the visible red circles found on many high level athletes’ bodies. Although touted to benefit multiple body systems cupping lacks scientific data from methodologically sound research studies, including randomized controlled trials. Within the musculoskeletal...
The evidence continues to build on the benefits of early Physical Therapy for patients with low back pain. Previous researchers have found successful outcomes and decreased health care costs (up to $1500 per episode of care) when patients are treated with early vs. delayed Physical Therapy or compared to usual care including primary care, education,...
Knee osteoarthritis is a common condition in aging adults leading to pain and reduced performance of daily and recreational activities. Manual therapy and exercise remain a hallmark of conservative care for this condition and have been shown to delay or prevent the need for a total knee replacement. In addition to exercise, corticosteroid injections are often...
Knee arthritis (knee OA) is the most common form of osteoarthritis and affects many individuals in middle to older age. This condition can be found on x ray or MRI testing in both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. The high rates of false positive imaging findings require a thorough subjective and objective examination in order to make a...
Hip Osteoarthritis Background Hip Osteoarthritis (OA) is considered one of the most serious musculoskeletal problems secondary to its impact on patients’ pain and disability, as well as, the economic impact on our healthcare system. 20% of the aging population will experience hip OA and the condition is a predictor of current and future func- tional...
Sciatica is a painful condition with symptoms of pain, numbness, and/or pins and needles extending down the leg. The term sciatica is helpful for location of symptoms, but their are multiple causes of sciatica. In our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics, determining the cause is the first step in recovery for this...
Shoulder pain remains one of the most common reasons patients seek out the care of both their primary care physician and Physical Therapist. The most common cause of shoulder pain remains subacromial impingement or the compression of soft tissues including the rotator cuff tendons within the shoulder joint. Physical Therapy including joint manipulation and mobilization,...
We have previously written about the move away from arthroscopic surgery for degenerative meniscal tears and knee arthritis based on surgery’s limited effectiveness in the medical research. In addition, these surgeries have not been able to show greater outcomes than placebo or sham surgery. Until recently, studies have not utilized a comparable placebo group to...
